Moss Point Main Street to focus on branding riverfront district

MOSS POINT, Mississippi - Kristen Holley said Tuesday that the Moss Point Main Street Association is using a four-point approach to promote the city's downtown with a focus on branding a Riverfront District.

"Downtown is the community pride and community history," the association coordinator said, noting that downtown is critical to city because it provides jobs and is an economic stimulator.

"Downtown provides partnership between the private sector and public sector," Holley said. "They create a sense of synergy and a strong base for independent businesses and entrepreneurs."

Holley spoke to nearly 100 residents and community leaders who attended the Moss Point Main Street Annual Membership Breakfast and Program this morning at Dantzler Memorial United Methodist Church.

Attendants included city and county officials, school district administrators, city emergency personnel, and political candidates.

Holley thanked the group's board directors, explained the purpose of Main Street before detailing the four-point approach adopted from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and providing and overview of events and programs sponsored by the association last year.

The points include goals and work plans by the association's board of directors/organization committee, promotion committee, design committee and economic restructuring committee.

Holley said that people want to live in places that are safe, and she praised Chief Keith Davis for his recent report that crime is down by 24 percent from last year.

"People want to live in places that are vibrant and walkable," she said. "Moss Point Main Street is all about making our community a more vibrant, fun place to live and a more successful place to do business."

The goals of the board of directors are to establish volunteer development program, build community partnerships and raise funds for the Main Street Association. The work plan uses Facebook, association website and community events to bring in volunteers; establishes a speakers bureau to form relationships and partnerships with various community groups to; and adequately funds the association's projects and activities.

Holley talked about the planned and sponsored by the promotions committee, including the Rockin the Riverfront, Friday Night Summer Movie Series, and the Light up the Night events that occurred last year, and presented the breakfast attendants with list of the 2013 events.

Promotion's goal is to attract visitors to Downtown Moss Point through the Main Street-sponsored special events, and provide support and partnership for co-sponsored events and non-Moss Point Main Street events, as well as create buzz about Moss Point.

"We are going to create a Twitter account," said Holley. "We will actually have board of directors members tweet about things going on in Moss Point."

She said a mobile code also will be created "where you can find out where things are going on in Moss Point."

The promotion committee's work plan is develop a calendar of events for arts and cultural events, create a positive image ad campaign that include creating and producing a timeless "rack card" piece and creating press releases of special events.

As well, social media and marketing campaign includes websites, Facebook, posts on YouTube, and create of a QRCode, as well as a user friendly calendar. "We will have one stop-shopping," she said. "We will have all the information in one place."

Design Committee is responsible for getting the Riverfront District into top physical shape including physical improvements to buildings, business and public space. "They really want to start honing in on historic preservation," said Holley.

The Economic Restructuring Committee is responsible for analyzing current economic condition and identifying opportunities for market growth, strengthening existing business and recruiting new and supporting the overall health of the Riverfront District.

The goals of two are to beautify and enhance the Riverfront District and recognize and celebrate new businesses and market Moss Point as a great place to live and work.

Holley said that part of that plan is to partner with the city and other civic organizations to "Adopt and Plot" that they would maintain for the year, create a Planter Beautification Project, and research and art focused design that would introduce public art including five-foot statues of pelicans.

"When you come downtown you want to see something beautiful," she said.

Holley said the economic restricting committee is working to relocate the Pascagoula River Audubon Center to downtown, possibly to a former doctor's office. As well, she wants to work with the city to rename Post Office Street to reflect the location of the Audubon Center.

"Downtown is the living room of a community," said Holley. "It takes work to make it comfortable."

She and Audubon Director Mark LaSalle pushed for membership, saying that volunteering allows residents to give back to their community.

"Where this is no vision, no plan for downtown, people are not going to come here," she said.

LaSalle said, "The community is only as strong as people who stand up and support it. We can never have a big enough army to support us."

During a question session, Alderman George Martin asked about the Main Street budget. "We are financially secure right now," said Holley. "This is why we have these festivals so we won't be so dependent on the city."

Fire Lt. Scotty Montague said that he probably will join the Main Street Association. A Gautier resident, he was reared in Moss Point, and said he has a vested interest in the city because he works for the Moss Point Fire Department.

"I thought the vision they have is exactly what Moss Point needs to promote downtown," he said. "Anything to promote the city takes work and it takes people to provide that work."

Jackie Webb, program director for the Moss Point Parks and Recreation Department, said that she would reach out to class alumni, youth groups and community groups to help with Moss Point Main Street Association. "I'm going to try to each out and get a volunteer base," she said.

Dorothy Shaw, Main Street Board of Directors member, provided the welcome and Brother David Greer, the church's pastor, gave the invocation before Holley made her PowerPoint presentation.